Tuesday, September 26, 2017

Simple Woman's Daybook - September 25, 2017







FOR TODAY
September 25, 2017



Looking Out My Window:
Today was an "indoors" kind of day...

Not because of the weather!  It's beautiful outside.  The sun is shining; it isn't too hot - maybe the mid 80's?!  I haven't even checked.

But, just had a relaxing, semi-busy inside kind of day!!


I Am Thinking:
Trying to decide - last minute sort of decision! - whether or not to participate in the Write 31 Days challenge...

I think I was thinking about it last week, too!



I Am Thankful:
I am thankful for my Family; my Church Family; my friends...

I am thankful for the life I have; the things I do whether planned or at the last minute.

It's flexible!  Just the way I love it!



One of My Favorite Things:
Guess that goes with the "thankful" part, too!  A favorite thing is spending time with my grandchildren.

Sometimes it's all of them at once; but the one-on-one times I get to spend with them individually is priceless!


I Am Creating:
During the last weekend I spent at a retreat, I was able to get a lot of projects finished.  The ones that still needed a few finishing touches have also been completed.

Now, I am putting things together for two days of scrapbooking next weekend:  first, on Saturday at a local church with friends who have set up a Girls' Day Out.  Then, on Sunday about an hour away at a store where I will be meeting an online friend for the first time.

At these two events, I will be working on some Halloween things; as well as a couple of other projects I've been wanting to complete.


I Am Wearing:
A pair of jeans - it's so good to be back in my jeans!  I am so much more comfortable in them than the shorts or capris I wear during the summer!  Also, a green-ish shirt and a pair of candy cane red and white socks with green on the toes!

It's all about the comfort!!


I Am Reading:
Still reading the third book of the Georgia Trilogy by Eugenia Price,"Beauty from Ashes".

While I do love her books, and am loving this series, I think I will take a break from this author for the next couple of books I read.

These books take place in the mid-1800's, and I think I need to move forward a few years!  But, I am not abandoning the other series I want to read or re-read!


I Am Hoping:

Hope?!  What am I hoping?!  I hope to spend more time with my daughters and their families, and my son as we move closer to the holidays...

Including those we have in October!  Just not sure how I want to handle the Halloween visiting this year.  Last year it was a really crazy traffic jam trying to get from one side of town to the other in order to see all of the grandkids in their costumes!


I Am Learning:
To take what comes with as little stress and worry as I can!

Recently, we received a letter that our doctor was closing his practice.  I actually took this as an opportunity to change doctors.

Though my husband really "loves" this doctor, I do not!  And, I am the one that has to speak to him about issues that may come up.

So, I have decided to just not stress over it; and make the change to another doctor...


In My Kitchen: 
The dishes in the dishwasher are dirty; I ran an almost full load this morning after breakfast and have put about 4 items into it to run when it is full again!

Dinner?  Leftovers from Sunday's outing with my grandson...Chinese!  Lo Mein, Orange Chicken, and Teriyaki Grilled Chicken...

I am getting hungry just typing those words!


Shared Quote:

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A Moment From My Day:
Unexpected moments with my grandchildren are precious to me!

After church on Sunday I drove over to see my six-year old grandson, who has just become a Cub Scout.  They were in front of a grocery store selling their yummy popcorn!

After making my purchase and visiting a few minutes with my daughter and son-in-law, I left with my 17-year old grandson to eat Chinese...that's where my leftovers came from!

Enjoyed both!!

Tomorrow, my husband and I will meet our daughter and granddaughter at a park where we will spend a little time with them.



~~~~~~~

Well, this is the last SWD for September.  Next week we will be into another month.  Hard to believe how fast this year is flying by us!

Not sure how it will work out for the next month!  I will be participating in the monthly challenge, Write 31 Days, where I will write every day during the month of October.

Hope you will check that series out, as well as my regular weekly participation with the Simple Woman's Daybook!




Sunday, September 24, 2017

Five Minute Friday - ACCEPT


Five Minute Friday

Faithful to writing for this wonderful community...I am not!

Yet, I really do love connecting with the writers in this community!

I actually haven't been very faithful in writing at all lately, except for an occasional post for the prompted link-up, the Simple Woman's Daybook.

Well, here I am again!  Trying to decide if I will accept the challenge to write for the month-long venture...

Write 31 Days!

Because I haven't been writing much, it seems quite a challenge that I am not sure I can complete.

Preparing for a whole month of writing can be quite challenging in itself; and because I haven't been writing much lately, the whole thing is becoming overwhelming...even a little scary.

Deciding on a topic; creating a "button"; setting up the landing page; preparing what to write each day...

All of this was foreign to me when I decided to join that first year in 2014; but I survived!  I actually completed that year's challenge; and wrote again in 2015 and 2016 using the FMF prompts.

Once again, I have the same overwhelming, scary feelings, trying to make the decision to participate, or not.

The decision I am making is that I will accept this challenge using the Five Minute Friday word prompts, as I did the past two years.

Yes, it is overwhelming!  Yes, it is scary!  But, it really is fun!  Though a lot of work; it is fun!!

Check out my blog starting with my introduction to the Write 31 Days challenge on September 30th!!  



For more information on Five Minute Friday, check out the Five Minute Friday Community on Facebook.  And, after writing your own post, share it on the weekly Five Minute Friday Link-Up.



Friday, September 22, 2017

Simple Woman's Daybook - September 18, 2017







FOR TODAY
September 18, 2017



Looking Out My Window:
Today is a beautiful, sunny, warm September day in the low 80's.

I haven't been outside yet; in fact, I haven't even gotten dressed and it's after eleven in the morning!

But, I have been busy inside...


I Am Thinking:
On my mind today are the events of the past few weeks...

First, the excitement of an Eclipse, which I wrote about the last time I posted for Simple Woman's Daybook.

Then, a major hurricane was brewing south of Florida, and we watched for over a week as it came slowly towards the Keys and Miami.  And concerns that it would head directly up the middle of Florida!


Well, thank you, Irma, for moving more to the west; though the damage here in North Florida was pretty bad anyway from tornadoes, storm surge, rains and winds.

And, I can't even imagine how bad it was in the Keys and Miami; and those islands south of Florida!

I had to stop watching it on TV; the damage was so devastating!  I cried as I saw photos of favorite places around town, damaged almost beyond repair.

And, all of this happening not very long after all of the damage in Houston from Hurricane Harvey, and so many other devastating disasters:  fires and earthquakes and tornadoes...

The one part I can honestly say I was happy about...is the media wasn't talking constantly about shootings and killings and that kind of thing.

Instead, it was the disasters...and how people came together to help each other!  We can use more of that kind of reports!



I Am Thankful:
I am thankful that we didn't have any damage, nor did either of the girls at their homes.  Though many were without power for long periods of time, we did not lose power at the apartment.  My one daughter lost power for about five hours; the other one for a bit longer.

And, I am thankful that it is over.  I do not wish to go through that again; but, we do live in Florida.  In fact, there is another hurricane "out there"; still a very long way from us.  Praying it turns east and heads out into the Atlantic Ocean!



One of My Favorite Things:
Spending time with my friends; laughing; sharing meals together; crafting and sharing ideas; talking and sharing our lives and loves and concerns and whatever else we can find to talk about!


I Am Creating:
Lots of stuff!!  I spent a wonderful girls' weekend in place of a retreat that was cancelled because of Hurricane Irma...

So, I was able to get a lot done!


I Am Wearing:
Ready for bed...started writing this morning and spent the day in my "I ❤ Sleep" pj's from last night!

Now, I am showered and wearing a new pair of gray pj's with little blue flowers.

And, pink and white socks on my feet!  They may not match, but they keep my feet warm and comfy!


I Am Reading:
Just started reading the third book of the Georgia Trilogy by Eugenia Price,"Beauty from Ashes".

Loving this series, as I do all of her series.  After I finish this one, I think I will stay in Georgia for awhile, reading four more books in the "Savannah" series!

Not sure if it continues with the same people from the trilogy; or if it's a "new" group of people.  Most of her books have people show up from other books anyway!


Looks like I will be reading Eugenia Price for awhile!!


I Am Hoping:

Our shopping this week doesn't blow up into a major battle!

Why does he have to be so unreasonable?!  I guess that's how dementia works?


I Am Learning:
And, I am learning more and more how to "deal" with it.  Not a very easy task; but I am learning...

Every day I "learn" a little more!  One day, maybe I'll know it all!!!


In My Kitchen: 
Yesterday, on my way from out of town, I called our local Cracker Barrel and ordered two chicken and dumpling dinners, with cabbage and green beans.  And, a slice of Coca Cola cake for dessert.

I ate about half of mine and that is what I had for dinner tonight.  Hubby ate some other leftovers that were in the fridge.


Shared Quote:
During the days before Hurricane Irma hit, I was trying to get things together and decide if I was going to stay in our apartment and ride it out, or go to my daughters and be with family.

Though my husband refused to leave, I felt the need to leave.  So I spent a few days with my daughter, her husband and two boys, and my son who also lives with them.

I came across this quote on Facebook:

"Your past has determined where you are at this moment.  What you do today will determine where you are tomorrow."  - Tom Hopkins

My decision to go to my daughter's house didn't really change the course of my life; but it determined where I ended up the day the hurricane came raging through.

Thankfully, all was well at the apartment; but I'm not sure I would leave my husband alone again...no particular reason except I feel he needs me to be there with him!


A Moment From My Day:
My days are never the same.  Even the days of the week don't always follow the same routine.

I do try to save Mondays for my laundry and "chores" at home.  But, at times there are other things that I need or want to do.

I enjoy days when I can just stay home and do whatever I want.  And, I enjoy days when I can head out and do some "retail therapy"; you know, shop 'til I drop or something like that?!

I just enjoy being retired and having the options!!

~~~~~~~

Where do the days go?  I feel as if this is said each time I write my SWD post; but most of the time, it has been a week or two since my last one!

This time, it has been a whole month; and a lot has happened since I wrote during a time we were all expecting - and hoping to see - the Eclipse of 2017!

Well, I didn't see anything except the news and pictures shared on Facebook.  But, that event did bring a lot of excitement...

These past couple of weeks were more like major concern and uncertainty...but we managed to get through it all and move on despite what the hurricane brought.

Many didn't fare as well as we did; but with people helping people, they will.

Join me again next week for a look into this simple woman's day.  You never know what you will find me doing on my journey with Dementia, Retirement, and Life.